The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

PROPOSED GROUPING OF ASSIZES. Wherever constrained to express an opin- ion, his Majesty's judges sympathise with the public protests raised against the pro- posed grouping of assizes. At Cardigan, last week, Mr Justice Scrutton said that undoubtedly there are great advantages in the existing system," which enables the people to witness the administration of jus- tice, and is convenient for both jurors and witnesses. But he also gave an illustra- tion of the reasoning which prompts the pro- posal, by pointing out that while he came to Cardiganshire to try only three prisoners and to hear two civil cases, when he left London there were 200 common and 250 special jury cases waiting to be dealt with. This. state of things, together with the fact that there are fewer judges than thirty years ago, imposes a continual strain but in Mr Justice Scrutton's view the remedy is simple enough. The appoint- ment of two more judges would overcome the present difficulty. If that be so, why, by grouping the assizes, create untold in- convenience and expense to all persons compelled to travel long distances to the courts ? We imagine that the proposal emanates from officialdom, which regards the world outside, of London as of no judicial account.

SETTLED. Experts medical, legal, agricultural, and engineering have' not succeeded in dis- suading the Newtown Council against, the location of the refuse destructor upon the gasworks' ground. Since the site was sanc- tioned by the Local Government Board in- spector, on conditions subsequently certi- fied by the Council's special expert adviser, its adoption was warranted. Destructors are to be found in the very heart of the most populous cities, and ere long this scientific sanitary method of dealing with public refuse must become universal. The gasworks situation is not only a central one there most of the necessary buildings are already provided. Thus both the initial cost and the expense of working the destructor will be appreciably smaller than if another site had had to be acquired. These con- siderations are, certainly, secondary to the question of nuisance, but the history of the working of refuse destructors does not justify those personal protests with which the scheme was assailed by people resident in the neighbourhood of the works, who, of course, reasonably enough associate the cre- mation of rubbish with obnoxious effluvia.

THE COUNTY YEOMANRY. Comfortably camped, favoured by weather which, though broken, has not seriously interfered with operations, ably officered, and with a genuine enthusiasm ruling all ranks, the county yeomanry have enjoyed a very instructive week's training at Newtown. Each successive day's pro- ceedings are entertainingly described by our camp correspondent, from which it will be gathered that good work is being done to develop the efficiency of the regiment. We anticipate a creditable report from the inspecting officer. The inhabitants of New- town are decidedly pleased with the moral behaviour of the troopers whilst off duty, and we believe that that feeling is recipro- cated by the entire regiment in respect of the kindly consideration shown on the part of the public. This year's camp will likely rank among the most enjoyable and most beneficial in the history of our county yeomanry.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE INFIRMARY NEW BUILDING FUND. TOTAL AMOUNT REQUIRED £ 6,000. AMOUNT PROMISED- TO MAY 28: J55.529. AMOUNT YET TO BE RAISED: JB471. Last week's donations and promises:— £ s. d. Mr George Thomas, Gorphwysfa 5 0 0 Mr and Mrs J. Evans, Minhafren, Llan- dinam 2 2 0 Mr and Mrs Lane Griffiths, Newtown 2 2 0 Mr J. M. Howell, Aberdovey 1 l o Mr R. Nettleton Goodwin, Geneva 0 10 6 "E. P." 0 10 6 A Friend. 0 10 6 LLANDYSSIL. (Ecclesiastical Division only). The sum of .£10 lis has been collected here for the above fund. The chairman was the Rev J. P. Morgan; local secretary and treasurer, Mr G. J. Wroughton. Messrs C. Lewis and J. Lamford collected Goronddu side, Messrs J. E. Williams and J. Rason, Cefnycoed East, and the Misses Maisey Watkins and Cissie Lewis, the Village. These two young ladies also collected Cefnycoed West, which had been assigned to Mr Withers and Mr Hamer, but were unable to act. DONATIONS OF XI.-ReV. J. P. Morgan, Miss Martha Hughes.— £ 2. DONATIONS oF 5s.—Mr W. B. Jones. Mrs Good- win, Mr C. Lewis, Mr John Bason, Mr W. Corfield, Mr R. Price, Mrs Watkins, Air Withers, Mr Hamer, Mr Wroughton.— £ 2 10s. DONATIONS OF 4s. AND 3s 6D.—Mr J. E. Wil- liams, Mrs Evan Roberts.—7s. 6d. DONATIONS OF 2s. 6D -Mr John Rees, Mr Geo. Hicks, Mr J. Langford, Mr John Lewis, Mrs Row- lands, Mr R. D. Thomas, Mr R. Lewis, Mr Baylies, Mr E. Owen, Mr W Jones, Mr Hopkins, Mr Jones,' Miss Wroughton, Mrs Hughes, Mr W. Evans. Mr Ar. Evans, Mr R. T. Ralph, Mr Anthony, Mr E. Evane, Mr Breeze.— £ 2 10s. DONATIONS OF 2s.—Mr C. Edwards, Mr M. Jones, Mr Cadwallader, Mr Gwilt, Mr Thompson, Mr Mountford, Mr Ralph, Mr H. Owen, Mr R. Owen, Mrs Chapman, Mr J. Vaughan Lewis, Mr A. Corfield.— £ 1 4s. DONATIONS OF Is. 6D.-Mrs Williams and Mr T. Hopkins.-3a.. DONATIONS OF IS.—Miss Breeze, Mr W. Bevan, Mrs Davies, Camp, Mr W. Morgan, Mr W. Oliver) Mr J Corfield, Mr E. Francis, Mr E. Roberts, Mr Lewis Jones, Mr J. Morris, Mr C. Cross, Mrs Pryce, Mrs G. Lewis, Mr Jas. Evans, Mr Beedle, Mr E. Pryce, Mr Gittens, Mr Pugh, Mr E Owen, Mr G. Williams, Mr Shawcrose, Mr W. Evans, Mr Cooper, Mr Edward Jones, Mr John Breeze, Mr A. Jones, Mr J. Lewis, -Hafod.-XI 7s. DONATIONS OF 6D.-Mrs Preece, Miss Roberts, Mrs M. Jones, Mr Brown, Miss M. Lloyd, Mr S. Woods, Mrs M. Owen, Mr Clayton, Mr Eaton, Mr J. A. Ralph, Mr Trow, Mr Morris, Mrs Thomas, Mr Joe Woods, Mr Bowen.—7s. 6d. DONATION OF 10D.—Mrs Williams. DONATION OF 9D.—Miss Ruby Watkins. DONATIONS OF 3D. AND 2D.—Mr W. Weaver and Miss Alice Williams.-5d.

CIVIC WAR AT WELSHPOOL. I Town's Indignation Meeting. Councillor Hiles' Scathing Speech. Ald. Harrison's Personal Attack. Defiance or Surrander- Which ? An ideal June evening in Powysland. Many out-of-door attractions. But within the Welshpool Town Hall a crowd nearly 600 strong—" The Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough," a representative assembly, ranging from Coedydinas to Guils- field, from Mr Mitchell to Mr William Mat- thews. A Town's Meeting to protest against the Town Council's suggested lease of land for refuse disposal." Cutting criticisms, slashing arguments, sentimental appeals. Cheering and laughing and a little hooting. A two hour's session until 10-40 p.m. Mustard-and-cress impressions by men-in- the-street, wearing broad Pro-Henfaes smiles "The opposition collapsed." "They simply ignored us at the first town's meeting. The second time Councillor Jen- kins came. The third time Alderman George Harrison came. And Mr Addie." A most important meeting, with dra- matic incidents." There'll be hundreds sorry they didn't take the trouble to come." The Rev J. Stroud Williams, Welshpool's veteran Free Church Bishop, was chairman of the Town's meeting last November, and the first business done now was to entrust him with the same responsible position. Mr A. J. Giles, one of the hon. secretaries, who had helped to organise the meeting, pro- posed this incidentally he described him- self as a staunch Conservative," and Mr Stroud Williams as "of the opposite colour." Mr Robert Owen-the other hon. secretary, like wise a Conservative in politics—seconded the motion, which was duly accepted. The Chairman referred to the previous town's meetings held on the Henfaes ques- tion, which, he understood, had been de- scribed by one gentleman as meetings of rowdies (cries of Shame "). That was not very complimentary to their fellow townsmen, and he could only say that per- sonally he had not been aware of any rowdy element at the meeting over which he had presided (hear, hear). There were certainly some who wished to speak in an unorthodox fashion from the other end of the room. But beyond that he certainly was not aware of any rowdyism at all (hear, hear). It was a meeting of respectable townsmen, who were met together to consider a matter in which they felt very keen interest, and the presence of such an assembly that night indicated the amount of interest which was still taken in the matter. The Chairman then called upon Mr Coun- cillor Hiles, the respected and popular head master of the Welshpool Grammar School. In accordance with the traditions of the two previous town's meetings, both the Pre- sident and the speakers dispensed with the platform, and were on a level with the ex- pectant listeners, who gave a hearty cheer to the evening's champion of municipal progress. Coolly and collectedly, Mr Hiles faced the crowd. A few rows away there sat Mr For- rester Addie, the Earl of Powis's estate agent, with whom the Council has been in corres- pondence regarding the proposed lease of two fields in Severn-road for refuse disposal. He had arrived in the company of Alderman G. D. Harrison, who sat next to him. There was no more attentive person in the audi- ence than Mr Addie, but, of course, he gave no expression of his views upon the candid discussion of what that business transaction with him involves. Near by there sat two other anti-Henfaesite councillors-the Mayor (Mr T. J. Evans) and Alderman Edward Wyke. Councillors Stockton and Jenkins also attended. But the Progressive councillors were also in evidence here and there-Council- lors R. D. Thomas (the ex-mayor), J. Pryce Jones, and A. E. Bond. When the Cor- poration holds its monthly assembly next Friday week, and receives a resolution from the town's meeting, the councillors will have a public opportunity of comparing notes. Mr. T. Hiles. Mr Hilps, who addressed his listeners as fellow-ratepayers and fellow-sufferers," said: I have been asked by a very influential section of this benighted town of Welshpool to propose, for your acceptance or rejection, the following resolution:- That this town's meeting does emphatically protest against the Town Council's proposed lease of unsuitable fields for refuse disposal, and calls upon the Council to respect the expressed will of the townspeople by acquiring the freehold estate of 25 acres, called the Henfaes, in order to adequately tneet the sanitary needs of the town (present and future), and to help forward the industrial development of Welshpool (loud and continued applause). And, further, that a. copy of this resolution be sent to the Town Council, to the Earl of Powis, and, "last but not least," to the Local Govern- ment Board (hear, hear, and applause). Why am I here to-night? (continued the speaker). I am not a Town Councillor to-night. I appear here as an ordinary ratepayer- (hear, hear),—who is protesting with all his might against what he considers a most wrong and a most unjust proceeding (heof, hear, and applause). I have another reason. I want to tell you plainly that in spite of all efforts-some of them rather underhanded—underhanded or abovi-board as they may be, this question, while I have any concern with it, ihall 4 NEVER BE MADE A POLIHCAL QUESTION (hear, hear, and applause). I believe I am as good a Conservative as anybody who professes that faith (hear, hear, and applause). I have been actually called a Socialist by members of my own party (laughter). But my idea of Conservatism is to conserve, to keep all that is good and for the welfare of the community, and to destroy all that is hurtful or that will damage the welfare and progress of the same community (hear, hear, and applause). I have a third reason for coming to-night. I am very glad to see the opposition are in forcft to-night (applause.—Mr Giles Hear, hear). It is the first time we have had them face to face in a public meeting, and I am here to-night to reply to any objections, any questions, any arguments they may bring forward (hear, hear, and applause). In my opening sentences I said something about this being a benighted town. That wants a bit of explaining, perhaps. Benighted" means overcome in darkness, something belonging to the ages long gone by, a Noah's ark sort of thing—(laughter),—anti-diluvian, sunk in ignor- ance and darkness. You must imagine a manu- facturer coming here from a large centre in Lancashire or Yorkshire; he wants to extend his business, but cannot find land there; it is too dear. And, if he found it, the rates are bilyh- 10s in the X, or something like that: He is on the look-out, so he goes for a quiet country town he comes to Welshpool; he lands at the railway station he is thunderstruck at the size of the railway station. He inquires, and finds there are excellent railway facilities within a little town, that he has come to two excellent junctions; the London and North Western Railway, the Great Western Railway, and the Cambrian Railway are all united here. Being a smart man of business he keeps on making inquiries He goes through the town. He sees the good roads, and the surface of things generally. He GETS HOLD OF A MAN IN THE STREET that knows something about the affairs of this place. What is the price of labour?" he asks. Nothing, he finds, in comparison with what he has been paying. Labour is absolutely dirt cheap here, is it not so ? Mr William Pryce (a local quarryman in the audience): It is Mr Hiles What labouring men would ask for 2s 6d a day in a big town ? He makes further en- quiries and finds there is plenty of water power, the rates are a mere trifle, about 3s 6d in the X, a third of the rates he had been pnying. He says, Wh.t is ycur debt ? Debt" says the man in the street, "We've got none left! We have paid it all off except the loan to the Llanfair Railway, and it isn't a debt. Ten years ago we had a debt of about £ 15,000. Now we have a debt of absolutely nothing (hear, hear and applause). The manufacturer says, That's splendid! All's well here! I will build me a factory. 1 will employ hundreds of hands, and I will develop this manufactory of mine in this cheap, this convenient place, and I will make money." But he pauses, and says to the man in the street, Wait a bit! I haven't thought of one thing. Huw are you governed ? (Laughter). Wh4 governs you? (Laughter). You have all these advantages, hardly any rates at all, and no debt—an extraordinary thing! You must be governed by a set of Magic Magicians, MINIATURE ROTHCHILDS, ROOSEVELTS AND CARNEGIES (loud laughter). Smart men of business, who hav9 arrived at such a pitch of perfection as they have, your town council must be composed of men ready to seize every opportunity to go forward (laughter and smiles, hear, hear and applause). You must be governed by men who know no delay on the path of progress and reform." The man in the street knows a thing or two; he looks down- cast, and at last he pulls out this thinking. Suiting action to the word, Mr Hiles exhibited a pamphlet, and continued He shows that thing to the manufacturer, this would-be benefactor in this little town, who has come here to spend his thousands of capital every year. A five years' record of the Council's proceedings of the Hen- faes scheme! (laughter and prolonged applause). He looks through it. He says, Hullo It is the same thing over and over again! (laughter). They're a fine body of business men on this Council! Hullo! They're wob- bling (laughter) Hullo They're going for it here!" (more laughter). He turns over another year. "They're working against it here! (laughter). Is that your Town Council? Is that your progressive body !—40 meetings I have attended over 30 meetings and I know something about them," remarked Mr Hiles, and I have spoken at some of them till I was hoarse. 40 or 50 meetings, Councils and Committees and Committees aDd Councils on the Henfaes scheme (laughter). May we not ?' £ May we, ? and so on, and so on, ad infinitum, until one is sick and tired of the whole thing." Proceeding with his story Mr Hiles said And this manufacturer says Thank you, WELSHPOOL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME, so long as it is governed like it is. I will go somewhere else where I can meet with support from the Government of the day (applause) And it is at the end of five years. That is why I call the town at present benighted." We couldn't get the Henfaes, so we tried to get a poll of the inhabitants to see if the Town Council would consult th", people, who put them there. The ratepayers are their masters; they don't seem to recognize that (applause). I had a resolution ready which read something like this -I had actually addressed the envelope to go to the Town Mork: "That the question of the purchase of the Henfaes be submitted to a poll of the inhabitants." But I found about an hour afterwards that Alderman David Jones bad sent in his notice of motion to the Town Clerk. That clearly proves that there is not the slightest collusion between us Henfaesites (laughter and applause). We go for principle, not for party (hear, hear, and applause). They refused us a poll of you, gentlemen. They refused to take your opinion. Who are you? Nobody in their opinion. The poll was declared not provided for, but it was not declared illegal. A poll could have been taken and nothing more heard of it, except the result. It would have been acted on, I dare- say—(smiles)—but nothing more in the way of law would have been heard of it. THE OPPOSITION REFUSED US A POLL Why ? Surely they are too great, too influential, too confident in the justice of their views to be afraid of the voice of the people themselves? Are they or are they not ? The Almighty Majority on this Council of Welsbpool, I main- tain, does not represent, it does not reflect the opinions of the majority of the ratepayers (grim hear-hears and loud applause). At this point Mr John Pryce, Powell's-row (a workingman strongly in favour of the Henfaes), rose from his chair, evidently carried away with indignation against the Council. He began to declaim, but the Chairman called him to order, and Mr Hilea said: My earnest hope throughout this controversy is that there will be no personalities introduced into it whatever (hear, hear, and applause). If anybody hears me indulging in personalties I will give them leave-and I hope the Chairman will give them leave-to stop me at once—(hear, hear, and applause)—for there is nothing I despise or hate more than a personal question coming into and interfering with friend- ships. Surely this opposition of ours on this Council is too great and too confident of the justice of their own opinions to grudge us the small satisfaction of a poll! And yet they do so. Why ? Well, that's a question I can't make out. The day has gone by, when communities, bodies of people can be governed by individuals—(ap- plause)-and the refusal of this just and reason- able proposition has made those of us who love liberty and freedom and progress, imagine that we in Welshpool had gone to sleep, that we had indulged in a long dream. And, when we awoke, what happened ? We found ourselves not in 1910 but IN THE MIDST OF THE FEUDALISM j of the Middle Ages (applause). Now, gentlemen, that will not do nowadays. We haven't gone back to the bad old days of feudalism—we never shall, please God !—(applause)—when every town and every village in this country was over- whelmed, overshadowed, and overcome with terror at the mere shadow of the neighbouring baron. That day is gone! (hear, hear, and ap- plause). I am a Conservative that says so-a true Conservative. True representative Govern- ment-what is it ? Well, the definition of true representative Goverment is this—that it rests upon, respect for, and confidence in the average man—(hear, hear, and applause)—upon the belief that he is an adult, not a child (hear, hear). There are plenty of gentlemen here who have facts, figures and arguments at their fingers' ends: I am here to talk broad principles to-night, and I hope they will sink into our opponents' brains (laughter). We have had two town's meetings before. I maintain they have been thoroughly representative (hear, hear). Our opponents maintain-well, I heard that a gentle- man called us rowdies and roughs "—(laugh- ter and hooting). I am proud to be one of these rowdies and roughs (applause). We won't reply in that tone, I hope. Gentlemen on our side, let us never descend to that sort of warfare, I if you please. Our warfare is upon principle, nothing else, no personalities, if you please. What is the alternative to this Henfaes scheme ? TWO LITTLE FIELDS OF VERY DOUBTFUL EFFICIENCY. Those fields were referred to in moat flowery, most extravagant tarms at the last town's meeting. Mr Hiles proceeded to quote from the Express' report of an opponent's speech at that meeting: "You don't want to spend thousands for what you can get for .£13. Your Surveyor was unable to find it. I know he is rather shrewd. As you are walking down the Henfaes-road to the Hen- faes you see 3 acres which would be dumping 2 -ground for 50 years to come. You don't want to spend thousands for what you can get for X13 a year." Nobody knows the rent of these fields, com- mented Mr Hiles. It has not been settled yet; it is an open question before the Council. Yet months and months ago a seconder of that amend- ment at the town's meeting talks about getting "two fields, which had been certified by the Medical Officer as suitable, for a matter of X13 per annum." Again X13 per annum! It is an unlucky number. I should like to know where they got it from (laughter). I am a member of the Council, but I didn't know anything about it. There were two other little things said in con- nection with these fields—"they have been certified by the medical officer." At the date of this meeting in this room they had not been certified by the Medical Officer. They had not been passed by the Sanitary Inspector either, as was stated in the same meeting. An utter un- truth A couple of untruths, gentlemen The fields had not been passed, because I made it my business to inquire of these two officials. I hope our opponents will in future confine themselves to more legitimate and more honourable methods of warfare than they have been in the past (hear, hear). It is five years since I brought this resolution —and my friend Mr Councillor Pryce Jones, who was mayor, backed me loyally—that the Henfaes was a suitable spot for our development, our refuse disposal, and everything we wanted. And it is FIVE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING for an alternative scheme. And see what they have brought to us! Two paltry fields! Any- body can go down to these fields and see them for himself. There is a brook running between them. There was a brook in the Erwtelin land, which cost us Y.1,800 (applause and cries of "Shame.") They border the road, and Dr Thomas, I hope, will tell you all about it. Now, we have been defeated so far. Well, we on the Council are not lying down. They thought they had their heels on our n-cks, bat they haven't (applause). There are generally two methods for the defeated in warfare. You re- member the Boer war, the Black Sunday as we called it. We had met with defeat after defeat. Day after day details of disaster came in, and we were all grumbling and mourning on that Black Sunday. What did we do ? Did we waver ? Did we wobble? And did we waddle over to the enemy? No, we kept pegging on! (applause). Nobody dreamt of giving in to the Boors then; nobody dreamt of defeat. Ultimate victory was the goal aimed for, and ultimate victory was,won. We have the good of the community, the sanita- tion, the health, and the purity of the whole com- munity at our heart (hear, hear, and applause). And so long as we keep pegging on I defy anyone to say but that in the end victory shall be with us (applause). Those are my ideas on the Henfaes question. I will read you the Vicar's. The Vicar was seen to-day-the Vicar of Welshpool, a man very highly thought of (hear, hear, and loud applause), a man who was considered good enough to address a crowd of nearly 10,000 people in St. Paul's Cathedral (applause). THE VICAR SAID: The Henfaes is a good investment to him, as without any outlay on his part it pays at least 4 per cent., and could easily be made more profitable as agricultural land alone. He cannot commend the action of the Cor- poration in depreciating the valuo of the same land they arranged on their own initiative to purchase for the use of the town. "He cannot commend" (repeatad Mr Hiles). That is the mild phrase of a Doctor of Divinity. My own wgrds would be much stronger. He cannot commend." Fancy Dr. Davis in the pulpit telling you opponents of itie Henfaes scheme he cannot commend your action." And in the event of actual damage or nuisance will give himself a free hand in any proceedings he may take, but sincerely hopes for the sake of the ratepayers that this neces- sity may never arise (hear, hear, and loud applause). That is the Vicar of Welshpool (emphasised Mr Hiles). We were all lately mourning King Edward VII. After the Vicar of Welshpool I think no more suitable example to put before you would be that of our late beloved, rebpected, and revered Sovereign-and friend-Edward VII (hear, hear). Edward VII. did not talk about the Henfaes scheme (laughter). But he had a parallel case which applies to us in Welshpool. Now mark this, please. It is in a newspaper; that as a statement of facts-- At this point MR. JOHN WATKINS (Stockton House) interrupted: It isn't all facts in a newspaper! (cries of Order! ") Mr Hiles: It can be easily proved. I know foreign newspapers are not always to be depended on, but our English papers have a high name. The moment they cross the borders of strict rectitude and truth they are corrected, are they not? This statement has never been questioned: Work for 600 men. How the King promotes industry. An interesting touch of romance underlies the story of the negotiations between the Duchy of Cornwall and the China Clay Company, a pottery company employing English hands, which has just resulted in the concession of an important lease to the latter. For many months negotia- tions had been in progress—(" not for five years," Mr Hiles interpolated slyly amid laughter)—but the Steward of the Duchy—(" That is the Town Council majority." remarked Mr Hiles)—the agent of the Prince of Wales-Duke of Cornwall he was then-hesitated, lest the development of the china clay should pollute certain of the fine Dartmoor trout streams that flow through this place. (" The Steward hesitated. Mark it! The agent," repeated Mr Hiles). They said "Sweep him away. LET'S GO TO THE FOUNTAIN HEAD." Representations were made direct to the Duke of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, pointing out that these works would give employment to at least 600 men, and increase in time to a good many more. The Prince of Wales—our present King- happened to be out of the country at the time, and in his absence the matter came before King Edward. His Majesty expressed the view that the lease and the concessions asked for should cer- tainly be granted on the ground of furnishing employment (hear, hear, and applause). The result is that active development his taken place all through that district. Well, now. gentlemen, you have heard my views. A long step from my unworthy self you have heard the views of Dr Davis. By another long step you have heard the views of our great Kirg on industrial development. It is not only a dumping place for a few tons of refuse that we want; it is the future development of this little town (hear, hear, and applause). We want to see chimney stacks arising all over the place. We want the town to go on. Modern Conser- vatism does not know the meaning of standing still. Look at Mr Balfour's speech on peasant proprietorship, and you will soon realize it (hear, hear). And so I say, if we keep pegging away at this question, in time those gentlemen, who so earnestly oppose us now on the score of expense, will come into line I hope, and I can see the day when on this question victory shall be ours (loud and continued cheers, amid which Mr Hiles sat down, having spoken for forty minutes). Mr. George Court. Mr George Court seconded the resolution, and said they were present in a semi-judicial capacity, not to ask whether it was well for them to have a certain thing, but to demand why a certain thing to which they had assented and which their Town Council had considered necessary, had been gone back upon. They had a right to know from those whom they sent to the Town Council to represent them, not to misrepresent them as they did at the present time-as would be proved if a poll of the tow. were taken (hear,' hear, and applause). Was the Henfaes more unsuitable or dearer than when the Mayor and the Town Clerk signed the provisional contract for its purchase ? Was it less necessary now that Welshpool should have pure air and water and be considered a healthy spot, and that its people should be honourable and just and stick to their contracts ? (applause). The Vicar had been very mag- nanimous in the matter; if be (Mr Court) had been the Vicar, he shou!d have gone for every penny he was worth to make the To .vn Council fulfil their agreement. The Vicar might consider it a very good thing for the parishioners that he had taken no action in the matter, but he (Mr Court) doubted whether posterity would think so. From the financial point of view the Henfaes scheme would cost less than the present method of removing the refuse. The town of Ludlow had paid Xl,100 for 54- acres for two and a half times that amount Welshpool would get 25 acres with a house thrown in. and the money could be bcrrowed repayable in 60 years. If the-present Town Council would not carry out the contract, let November lat decide it (laughter and applause). Some members of the majority on the Council now against the Henfaes had pre- viously supported the scheme. Every man had a right to change his opinion^— sometimes it was cowardly not to do it and courageous to do it- but HE CHALLENGED AND DEMANDED of those members of the Town Council, who had altered their opinions, why had they done so. He (Mr Court) did not know that there was any desperate hurry to lease a few acres. The question of the dumping ground had bgen going on for five years; they could wait five months longer until November (hear, hear, and applause). He did not think Lord Powis was a type of man to lease them two fields for a small amount if they told him-as he (Mr Court) hoped they would-that they were in no hurry, and that, when November came, they should not want the fields at all. The Assembly to which Lord Powis belonged desired a short time ago to refer a certain subject to the people. Lord Powis should be the same in this matter as he was in Imperial politics—(hear, hear, and applause),—and, if the town did not require these two fields, but the Henfaes scheme, Lord Powis would not force his fields on them (hear, hear, and applause). He (Mr Court) said, "Wait and see! "-(laughter and applause),—but let them remember that they were dealing not only for themselves but for posterity. If they let this chance go they might not have the chance again. The Ex-Mayor. Dr R. D. Thomas, who had a very cordial reception on rising to support the resolution, said that the present method of disposing of the refuse and polluting the river with untreated sewage was a perpetual menace to health, and an unpleasant nuisance to those people who had had the rubbish deposited offensively near them. The ratepayers of Welshpool bad paid dearly for inefficiency of sanitary administration, and, what- ever happened, the present method of conveying the town refuse by canal boat to the Wern must cease. They who were now in the minority on the Town Council believed that the only solution of the problem was to purchase the land that geographically and by nature was best suited for the purpose-the Henfaes estate (hear, hear). But, assuming that the Henfaes estate could not be purchased, he still maintained that the two plots contemplated to be used off the Henfaes Lane were entirely unsuitable either under an yearly tenancy or leasehold. This proposal was, he believed, a most illegal action. At the meet- ing, when it was decided to make the application, there was nothing at all on the agenda, and very few Councillors knew about it being brought forward Only a hedge separated the Henfaes Lane from the place where the Town Council contemplated having its dumping ground. It was within 90 yards of the main road to Leighton, and within 200 yards of the nearest dwelling house—the gas manager's, and years ago a gentleman paid certain compensation to save the Town Council getting into trouble over typhoid fever at this house, near which the refuse was then being tipped. There was also the public footpath 140 yards away, and for about 150 yards THE LLYNDU BROOK ran through the fields in the line of deposit to another owner's property-the Henfaes land. It was contemplated to pipe the brook over and to build a retaining wall presumably to make it watertight, at a cost probably up to X200. That meant a first outlay equal to a 2d rate. Owing to the conformity and declivity of the land towards the hollow, there must be a great deal of rainfall or surface water, which would flow in the direction of least resistance downwards towards the hollow where the dumping ground was sup- posed to be. What would become of the water from there ? He was informed that it would be soaked into the field. But he ventured to say that the soil in the field was such that it would not absorb, and the water would simply flow over, so there would be a quagmire. If the water could be returned, they could easily imagine what a smell and nuisance there would be. It it could not be retained, it would go into the brook further on and pollute that water that passed through the Vicar's field, and he did not know what the Vicar would do in the matter. Dr Thomas reviewed the case for the Henfaes, which has already been published in the 'Express.' There had been no feasible alter- native scheme brought before the Council (applause). The speaker discussed its suitability for refuse disposal, sewage treatment, and isolation hospital purposes. Objection had been made that the Henfaes was not a suitable place to erect an isolation hospital. His reply was that one of the biggest London hospitals was on the bank of the Thames, also the Houses of Parliament, and, surely, if some of the chief people of the land were willing to live under such conditions, he thought they in Welshpool ought to be. The entire cost of purchasing the Henfaes, and carrying out the scheme of sewerage and sewage works would not mean more than a rate ot 3jd on the inner district, and that he was prepared to prove (applause). For a small con- sideration every ratepayer had the power and liberty to go to the Town Clerk's office and find out and judge for himself the expense. It was now, ten minutes to ten o'clock, when the Chairman asked if there was any amendment to the resolution. No amendment was proposed, so the Chairman asked did anyone wish to speak before he put the resolution. Alderman G. D. Harrison then rose from his seat, amid cheers and counter-cheers, and readily accepted the Chair- man's invitation to com-) forward. Alderman G. D. Harrison. The speaker, who had a sheet of notes in his hand, said he had come there that evening absolutely with no intention what- ever of addressing the meeting, because he had come wholly and solely with the idea of hearing what, if anything, could be urged against this very unfortunate Town Council (laughter). He was sorry to say that so far he seemed doomed to go away disappointed. He had heard no substantial charge that could be adduced, so far as he was able to judge, against those gentlemen who had hitherto acted as the majority on the Town Council (some applause). He spoke that night only on his own behalf he appeared as a humble individual, who had -been privileged for 35 years to occupy a seat on the Town Council of Welshpool (hear, hear, and applause). During the whole of that time—and he did not speak with any egotism—he had endeavoured to act free from party bias or. any political feeling, and he had endeavoured to the best of his ability to act up to that which ought to be the influence of everyone who went on the Town Council-his own conscience (hear, hear). Making his own position ab- solutely clear, he declared that as long as he was -on the Town Council it would be his firm determination, as it had been in the past, to hear all men's arguments, but to form his own judgments and conclusions. "I DECLINE TO BE THE SERVANT or simply the representative of any party whatever. I will exercise my own judgment ,fearlessly. I may be right or I may be wrong, but as long as I am on the Town Council, please understand that I do not appear as the representative of any in- dividual or any particular creed or sect" (applause in the rear of the room). Continuing, Alderman Harrison said he was perfectly well aware that anyone occu- pying a public position was properly enti- tled to be criticised in his speeches and in his public life. He did not shrink from that, nor, he thought, did anyone of his colleagues on the Council who might have taken an attitude that did not, altogether commend itself to the views of the promoters of that meeting. He was perfectly willin-I to submit to any criticism that was thought right, but it must be based upon fair prin- ciples-there must be no misrepresentations, no misunderstandings. He did not com- plain of individual criticism, but. he did complain and protest against a section of the Press,—(smiles)—which had not thought it derogatory to attack in most unfair terms the action of the majority of the Town Council in this particular matter (applause in the rear of. the room). He did so em- phatically, and he accepted with all cor- diality the words of his friend, Mr Hiles. that there should be no personalities. But when they saw the names of certain gentle- men connected with the Town Council ap- pearing m the public Press, when the ma- jority on that Council were held up to pub- lic ridicule as grossly disloyal and dis- creditable in their conduct, when they were attacked as endeavouring to stultify industrial development, when they were charged with "studied and unrelenting de- fiance," as "public trustees charged with the administration of the affairs according to the requirements of the community," he thought it was time they should PROTEST FIRMLY AND RESPECTFULLY. Although he held no brief for his colleagues —he had not spoken to them on the sub- ject—he did most respectfully protest against

NEWTOWN WATERWORKS. Although possessed of an excellent and abundant water supply, the people of New- town are- not exploiting its utmost benefits. The corrosion of old mains and the inade- quate capacity of many parts of the dis- tributive system, account for defective pressure and occasional scarcity, which means much domestic inconvenience and discontent among householders on the higher parts of the town, and might in case of fire prove unequal to the require- ments of the brigade. Certainly the re- sponsible committee of the Council have not faced this vital fact too soon. The scraping of the main for half a mile from the reservoir is the first instalment of what we hope will be a thorough process of over- hauling. Why should there be any scarcity or insufficiency of pressure with a supply that can provide for all the legitimate needs of a population at least twice the size of Newtown? We regret that the Coun- cil have not appreciated the wisdom of creating a reserve fund for the purposes of this necessary improvement. It is all very well to boast of floating balances for general purposes. The fact is that the waterworks have been starved of the money originally provided for their improvement.

EFFICIENT FIRE BRIGADES. The proposal of Newtown Council to pur- chase a steam fine engine represents a prudent and profitable investment, which will be approved by the ratepayers gener- ally. At present the Newtown fire brigade is seriously inefficient owing to poor equip- ment. Dilapidated apparatus and an ob- solete engine inspire little enthusiasm among the firemen and attract no volun- teers. After what transpired at a recent I meeting of the Council, there should be little difficulty in prevailing upon insur- ance companies to assist in the purchase and also in the maintenance of the engine and appliances, and if the proposal receives the practical support of local manufacturing firms and others, a very capable brigade will be established. Let all interests be as- sociated with its organisation, and volun- teers enlisted from among those who have special knowledge of buildings, and regular practice work provided for effective train- ing, which counts so much in dealing with fires. A fire engine, however efficient in itself, is little better than a toy if the fire- men, owing to want of practice, are un- skilled.

OUR FOOD AND DRINK. Locally, health authorities are chargeable with a regrettable amount of indifference towards the important duty of exercising a close and continual vigilance regarding the public food supply. Medical officers do their best towards securing for us whole- some milk, but their efforts end with the sanitary arrangements of cowsheds and dairies, after which the milk vendor has, if we recollect rightly, only one single in- spector to fear in the whole country. So have meat sellers and other retailers of food. A perusal of our extract from the Board of Agriculture's report, based upon a system of expert tests, shows how import- ant this supervision is. Thereiii we learn of adulteration of cream with vegetable matter, of paraffin and petroleum oil in margarine, and of cider consisting of a so- lution of cane sugar acidified with tartaric acid and flavoured to imitate the genuine article. Preservatives are used to freshen up stale food, and adulteration is very much more largely practiced than people generally suspect. We read of cheap tea composed for the most part of hawthorn, alder, willow, oak, beech, and elm leaves dried and crumpled up into dust of wheaten bread whose chief elements are rye, barley, and potatoes, and sometimes fuller's earth of pastry, whose crispness is due to plaster of Paris of sweets, into I the composition of which glue enters, and of jams made with turnip, beet, and carrots. But how often do we in Montgomeryshire hear of the sampling of bread, tea, pastry, sweets and jam, or even whiskey, concern- ing some of which the tippler can give evidence sufficient to hang its distillers ?

WELSHPOOL'S THIRD PROTEST. We intend to review at length in next week's Express" the proceedings of the public meeting held at Welshpool on Friday night, at which the inhabitants for the third time protested against the reactionary policy of those councillors who determinedly oppose the Henfaes sanitation scheme. Our readers are furnished in to-day's issue with a full report of the meeting. They will especially enjoy the able and admirably courageous speech of Councillor Hiles, who subjected the oppositionists to a searching and effect- ive exposure. It was a poor answer which Alderman Harrison attempted. It was a characteristically lawyer-like one-" No case, abuse the plaintiff." His references to the Express are immaterial—these were abso- lutely disposed of by the pronouncement of the meeting. The worthy Alderman objects to our charge of "disloyalty." Upon what does the indictment rest ? Twice the rate- payers have condemned the policy of the anti-Henfaesites, twice in public meeting they have declared their desire to realise the scheme, and repeatedly have they pro- tested against the alternative plan by which the reactionaries seek to thwart them. All these protests and petitions have been ig- nored, and the communal will defied. Dis- loyalty Was it ever more clearly demon- strated ? If these obstructionists continue their oligarchal attitude after Friday's meet- ing, disloyalty will have become too tame a description. But more anon.